Extension Service - Crystal Perry

Dr. Crystal Perry is a Public Service Associate with the University of Georgia and serves as the DeKalb County Cooperative Director where she provides leadership to the county office and collaborates with multiple entities to implement research-based educational opportunities to the community.

Before joining DeKalb County Extension in 2024 as the Director, Dr. Perry served as the 4-H County Extension Agent in Sumter County, Georgia for 10 years.  Dr. Perry brings over 20 years of experience working with vulnerable youth, families, and communities with a focus on positive youth development, administration, and public health.  Her expertise is rooted in family studies and intervention strategies, areas in which she has made significant contributions throughout her career.

Dr. Perry has managed an afterschool program with the Methodist Home for Children and Youth and she has served as director for a juvenile tracking program in partnership with the Department of Juvenile Justice.  She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, a Master of Public Administration degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social and Human Services.  Additionally, Dr. Perry is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council for Behavioral Health.

With a passion for serving at-risk populations, Dr. Perry has made significant contributions to positive youth development through her Extension leadership in Georgia.  She has used her academic and professional expertise to design innovative and inclusive initiatives.  One of her standout achievements is her work as the project leader and principal investigator for the Reaching, Our Community through Kindness, Education, Togetherness, and STEM (ROCKETS) Project.  This project, which she developed and implemented, focuses on fostering community engagement and inclusion while incorporating STEM education for vulnerable populations.  Dr. Perry has successfully launched the ROCKETS Project in Southwest Georgia, where it has had a profound impact.  The project's unique approach has garnered regional and national recognition, highlighting her ability to make a difference in the lives of youth, families, and communities.  Through these efforts, Dr. Perry has become a recognized leader in promoting diversity, inclusion, and educational empowerment.

Dr. Perry has also made significant contributions to the field of Extension particularly in supporting youth with disabilities.  She has developed important research on the experiences of Extension Youth Development Professionals working with differently-abled youth, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities in this area.  Her expertise in creating and implementing programs for youth with disabilities is part of a pivotal focus for program development with universities and Extension administrators.  Her work has been widely published on a national scale, further cementing her reputation as an Extension leader in diverse and inclusive programming.  Dr. Perry's dedication and impact in this area have earned her numerous state and national awards.

DEPARTMENTAL SUMMARY

Cooperative Extension provides the citizens of DeKalb County with educational programs and information from the University of Georgia in the area of Horticulture, 4-H and Youth Development, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Cooperative Extension educational programs have countywide significance:

• In the community and schools through 4-H and Youth Development
• In communities with efforts such as Master Gardeners and urban gardening
• In homes through nutrition, child development, housing, and financial literacy
• In nature by helping residents to protect the environment, and

In the food service industry through food handling and preparation information and training.